Three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova is just a match away from regaining the world number one ranking after reaching the semifinals of the 2012 French Open after beating Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday. The second-seeded Russian has reached the final four of this claycourt Slam twice in the past (2007, 2011) but lost.
Sharapova was clearly at her element during the match as opposed during her previous match where she committed 12 double faults and was broken nine times.
The Russian is expected to regain the top ranking by Monday next week if she reaches the French Open final. She will overtake current no. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus who lost in the fourth round against Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.
